Combined lifting-jack and truck.



PATENTND AUC. 13, 1907.` I. P. NELSON, T. C. SHAPPNLL C J. A. SMALLEY;COMBINED LIPTINC JACK AND TRUCK APPLICATION FILED NOV.26,1906.

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INVENTORS Im: 2HE o Torenc.: o. Sha bkell,

James-Rmaleg. BY

1HE Nonms PETERS co.,wAsHlNor N, n. c.

PATBNTED AUG. 13

I. P. NELSON, T. 0. SHAPPE'LL 6a J. A. SMALLEY.

COMBINED LIFTING JACK AND TRUCK.

APPLIOATON FILED NOV.26,1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR5 YSSon.

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ATTORNEY rn: Ncnms Fsrsns co.. wAsmNaran. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT UFFTCE,

RA P. NELSON, TORENCE O. SHAPPELL, AND JAMES A. SMALLEY, OF MONTPELIER,INDIANA.

COMBINED LIFTING-.TACK AND TRUCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

To all 'whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that we, IRA P. NELSON, TORENCE O. SHAPPELL, and .Linus A.SMALLEY, citizens of the United States, residing at Montpelier, in thecounty of Blackford and State of Indiana, have invented a new and usefulCombined Lifting-.lack and Truck, of which the following is aspecification.

Our invention relates to improvements in apparatus for lifting andtrucking objects of great weight and of unwieldy form and has referenceespecially to apparatus for elevating, shifting and the loading andunloading, for transportation, of pianos.

The purpose in our invention is to provide a combined lifting-jack andtruck whereby the object to be handled may be easily and expeditiouslyelevated to a height suitable for loading on wagon, car, or platform,and easily shifted, either before or after being so elevated, and toafford facility whereby these purposes may be accomplished with theexpenditure of a minimum amount of time and manual exertion.

A further object of our invention is to provide a device of this kindwhich will be portable, simple in construction, economical ofmanufacture7 and not liable to get out of order or repair.

These and other objects which will become apparent as our invention ishereinafter disclosed, are accomplished by the novel construction,arrangement and combination of parts as shown in this specification,clearly pointed out in the claims and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a side view, and Fig. 2 is a top-planview of our improved lifting-jack and truck as it appears in readinessfor use, part of the flange of one of the side-rails being broken away.Fig. 3 is a side view, and Fig. 4 is an end view of the device, showingthe frame in elevated position, a portion of thel side-rail being brokenaway. Fig. 5 is a detached, enlarged horizontal sectional view of therear end of the frame, taken on the line 5 5 Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is adetached enlarged view of the operating mechanism as shown in Fig. 4,the same being positioned nearer the bottom of the truss than appears inFig. 4, and wherein a portion of the end-rail 5 is broken away. Fig. 7is a transverse vertical sectional view of the frame taken on the line7-7 Fig. 3; and Fig. S is a perspective lview of the crank proper to beused in the manipulation of our improved device. Fig. 9 is a perspectiveview of the stop-block.

Similar numerals of reference refer to corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

The oppositely positioned side-rails marked 1, having the flanges 2, thesaid rails being retained a suitable distance apart and secured rigidlyby the endrails 3, 4 and 5, constitute the frame of oui` device.

6 designates guide-blocks` of such form that they constitute substantialbinding means for the securing of the side-rails to the end rails 4 and5, and a guideavaypfor the uprights 7 of the truss. The uprights of thistruss are retained properly apart at their upper ends by the strut 8 andare secured and retained rigidly in place with reference to each otherby suitable stiffening and connecting means such as the brackets 9 andthe angle-clips 10. At their lower ends the uprights are provided withsuitable boxing wherein are journaled the shaft 11,l and are retainedthe correct distance apart by the wheels 12 rigidly secured to theshaft. Between the uprights is the vertically disposed rack 14, itsupper end rigidly secured to the strut 8, its lower end pivotallysecured to the shaft 1l and retained in its correct position by thecollars 13 adjustable on the shaft.

15 designates a third wheel secured to the shaft l1, as shown in Fig. G;its function, together with the wheels 12, is to form a roller-bearingfor the rear-end of the complete device.

16 designates a suitable handle .convenient to be grasped by theoperator, in manipulating the device; and 17 denotes the crank adaptedto be applied for the same purpose.

18 designates a pinion rigidly secured to a suitable shaft journaled inthe end-rails 4 and 5, adapted to mesh with the rack 14. Also secured onthis shaft which projects outside the end-rail 5 and has the suitablehead 18a for the application of the crank, is the ratchet 19. Strainedagainst the ratchet by the spring 2O is the pawl 21, all as plainlyshown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6.

22 indicates a shaft extending longitudinally the Yentire length of theframe, equi-distance between the siderails and journaled in the end-rail3, and in the endrails 4 and 5. On this shaft at its portion between theend-rails 4 and 5, is journaled the collar 23, and the rigidly securedgear-wheel 24. The portion of this shaft which protrudes outside theend-rail 5 is provided with the suitable head 22Ft for the applicationof the crank. This shaft 22 is provided with tlneads, right and left,extending from its ends toward the center, as plainly shown in Fig. 2and which threaded portions directly engage the transverse shafts 25which will be hereinafter described.

The positions of the pinion 18 and the rack with reference to therevoluble collar 23 are such, that the rear face of the rack is alwaysin contact with the collar whereby the rack is prevented from beingsprung or strained out of true position when the pinion is in action andthe frame is being raised or lowered as will be hereinafter described.Meshing with the gear-wheel 24 and rigidly secured to a suitable shaftjournaled in the endrails 4 and 5 provided with the suitable projectinghead 26 to receive the crank 17, is the gear-wheel 26. This gear wheel26 is larger than the gear-wheel V24,-and its function will be presentlydisclosed.

The shafts 25 disposed transversely between the siderails have journaledat their ends the small wheels 28 of suitable diameter to move freely inthe guides formed for them by thedianges 2 and the guide-bars 29 securedalong the inner faces of the side-rails. Each of these shafts isperforated at its center and suitably threaded so that the threadedshaft 22 will be engaged and its revolution in either direction willcause the shafts 25 to approach toward or separate from each other asthe case may be. Pivotally secured to these shafts 25 are thel two setsof parallel bars 30, all having the same length and their ends oppositethe shafts pivotally secured to the transverse shaft 31. Journaled onthe ends of the shaft 3l are the wheels 32 the shaft being of suchlength that it may be retained, together with its wheels, between theside rails 1, all as plainly shown in Fig. l and Fig. 2.

It will be observed that the center-line between the shafts 25 is solocated that its distance from the truss is slightly greater than itsdistance from the forward end of the frame ,-the reason for this beingthat when the object to be transported is sustained upon the wheels 32,the balance of weight should be slightly toward rather than away fromthe truss, thus rendering the manipulation of our improved combinedlifting-jack and truck, when loaded, always safe and easy.

.lournaled on the under-side of the frame at its forward end are theoppositely disposed wheels 33, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 7. Thesewheels constitute the roller bearing for the forward end of the f ramewhen it is elevated and being pushed forward on the car, platform orwagon, and, together with the wheels 12 constitute the roller-bearingsfor the entire device before or after it has received its load. The.forward end of the frame at its lower edge is curved as shown at 34 sothat there are no projecting corners to interrupt the progress of theframe when the same is directed onto and over the surface upon which itis desired to be placed. 35 designates a stop-block adapted to bedetachably secured to the flanges 2 by inserting in the holes 36 thestuds 35, the function of these blocks is to form a check against anypossible tendency of the load carried by the truck, to shift. The faceof this stop-block, as well as the faces of the guides 6 may be providedwith padded surfaces so that marring of the piano or other object beinghandled, may be prevented.

ing a suitable platform, this construction is in fact.

preferable for all the uses to which our device may be put, for thereason that all of the working parts between the side rails are therebyprotected from injury.

It will be understood that we do not desire to limit ourselves to theexact shape and form and details of construction as shown, as it isobvious the frame and the truss of our invention could be made entirelyof metal and that minor changes might be made in the generalconstruction and details of our invention, without departing from itsnature or principles.

Our improved device when in readiness for operation, and while usedsimply as a truck, appears as shown in Fig. l and Fig. 2, the wheels 32being snugly retained within the frame, and the end-rails 4 and 5 beingin close contact with the peripheries of the wheels l2 and 15 wherebythe truck is effectively chocked. After the object to be handled hasbeen properly placed on the frame, the operative then applies the crank17 to the head 18EL and partially rotates the pinion 18 whereby theframe is lifted free from the wheels l2 and l5, and is retained in suchlifted position by the pawl engaged in the ratchet 19. The device isthen free to be moved simply as an ordinary truck with roller bearingsat each end. lf it may be then desired to render the lead more easilyshifted or directed, the operator applies the crank to the head 22 andas the shaft 22 is revolved the shafts 25 are irresistibly drawn towardeach other and the wheels 32 in like manner forced downwardly to thefloor whereupon the frame is at once raised and the load may be theneasily shifted on the wheels 32 and the truck-wheels at either endalternately as may be desired. A

The next step in the operation of our invention is the elevation of theload. With the revolution of the pinion 1S the rear end of the frame israised, reverse movement thereof being at all times prevented by thepawl 2l locking the ratchet l); then the shaft 22 is revolved therebyraising the frame; alternately then, this pinion and shaft are revolvedby the operator until 'l the load has been elevated the desired heightfor shifting to platform, ear, or wagon.

The load being so placed on the frame that a slight excess of balancewill be toward the truss, it may be as easily manipulated in itselevated position, as in its lower position. lt will be observed thatthe height of the forward end of the frame may be at all times varied bysimply the operation of the shaft 22 or the pinion, so that the placingof the end of the frame on the plane where it is desired to deposit theobject to be handled, is easily accomplished. When this is done theentire device is pushed forward, resting on its wheels 32 and the wheels33g`in the mean-time the shaft 22 has been rapidly revolved by operatingthe crank on the gearwheel 26 whereby the wheels 32 are brought back tosuitable position whereby the load is supported on these wheels as it ispushed further forward.' The further pushing forward of the load (nowentirely resting on the elevated platform) renders the truss out ofengagement. The pinion is then revolved in the opposite direction, thepawl having been easily swung free from the ratchet, whereby the trussis quickly returned to its initial position as shown in Fig. l. Then thewheels 32 are raised into their position within the frame as shown inFig. l, the frame .then settles on the wheels l2 and l5. The load may bepermitted to remain on the truck, checked as it is, or may be truckedthereon, or removed therefrom, as may be desired. When it may becomedesirable to lower the object from its elevated plane, the truss issimply lowered to What We claim as our invention, and desire to secureby Letters Patent is- 1. In a device of the kind described, thecombination of a frame rollably mounted at one end and a verticallydisposed rollably mountedtruss slidingly secured at its epposite end,transverse shafts having wheels thereon adapted to move in suitableguides therefor on the inner sides of the frame, sets of bars pivotallysecured to the said shafts their ends opposite the shafts being'pivotally secured to a shaft upon which a pair of rollers are journaled,a device having connection with the said transverse shafts to force theshafts toward and from each other and to hold the shafts stationary,when stopped, at any stage of their travel, and a device to raise andlower and temporarily lock the end of the frame in said truss, at anystage of its raising or lowering, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the kind described, the combination with ahorizontally disposed frame rollably mounted at its ends, of alongitudinally extending shaft threaded from its central portion to itsends, right and left, journaled in and having its end extending beyondthe frame and having suitable head for application of crank, transverseshafts en* gaging said threaded shaft and having Wheels thereon adaptedto move in suitable guides therefor on the inner sides of the frame,sets of bars pivotally secured to said shafts and their ends oppositethe shafts pivotally secured to a transverse shaft having Wheelsthereon, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the kind described, 'the combination with ahorizontally disposed frame rollably mounted at its forward end, andslidingly secured at its rearward end to a vertically disposed trussrollably mounted, of a rack ver tically positioned and secured in saidtruss, a pinion joui'- naled on the frame its shaft having a 4suitablehead for application of a crank, a ratchet rigidly secured to saidpinion and a pawl secured to the frame and adapted to en` gage the saidratchet, substantially as described.

4. in a device of the kind described, the combination with ahorizontally disposed frame rollably mounted at its forward end, andslidingly secured at its rearward end to a vertically disposed trussrollably mounted, said frame having a longitudinally extending shaftthreaded from its central portion to its ends, right and left, journaledin and having its end extending' beyond the frame and having suitablehead for application of crank, transverse shafts engaging said threadedshaft and having wheels thereon adapted to move in suitable guidestherefor on the inner sides of the frame, sets of bars pivotally securedto said shafts their ends opposite the shafts being pivotally secured toa transverse shaft having wheels thereon, of a rack verticallypositioned and secured in said truss, a pinion journaled on the frameits shaft having suitable head for application of crank, a ratchetrigidly secured to said pinion and a pawl secured to the frame andadapted to engage said ratchet, substantially as described.

In a device of the kind described, the combination with a horizontallydisposed frame rollably mounted at its forward end, and slidinglysecured at its rearward end to a vertically disposed truss rollablymounted, said frame having a longitudinally extending shaft threadedfrom its central portion to its ends, right and left, journaled in andhaving its end extending beyond the frame and having suitable head forthe application of a crank, a gearwvheel journaled on the frame meshinga smaller gear-wheel rigidly secured on said longitudinal shaft theshaft of the larger gear-wheel having a suitable head for theapplication of a crank, transverse shafts engaging the said threadedshaft and having wheels thereon adapted to move in suitable guidestherefor on the inner sides of the frame, sets of bars pivotally securedto the said shafts their ends opposite the shafts being pivotallysecured to a transverse shaft having Wheels thereon, of a rackvertically positioned and secured in said truss, a pinion journaled onthe frame its shaft having a suitable head for the application of acrank, a ratchet rigidly secured to the said pinion and a paw] securedto the frame and adapted to engage the said ratchet. substantially asdescribed.

in testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of tvvo subscribing witnesses.

IRA I. NELSON. TORENCE O. SHAIPELL. JAMES A. SMALLEY, Witnesses JOHN W.RYAN, THOMAS L. RYAN.

